Container-latch.



MfH. STOLL, CONTAINER LATCH.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.2 I915.

Patented Sept. 28, 1915.

Svweukot I IH- fiTOLL COLUMBIA PLANDCIRAPH c0.. WASHINGTON, D. C.

MA HEW 1 EQLL Q lei 93.93. 3, WI$ N Patented Sept. 28, 1915,.

Application filed January 2, 191a Serial no. 133.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, MATHEW H. SToLL, a citizen of the United States, residing at La Crosse, in the county of La Crosse and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Container- Latches, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to looks, or latches, and particularly to latches designed for holding the covers of boxes in closed position.

The primary object of my invention is'the provision of an extremely simple form of lock or latch for this purpose having very few parts, and these so shaped that they may be easily stamped out from sheet metal and easily assembled.

A further object of my invention is to so construct the lock or latch that it will obstruct the entrance of light intothe box through the opening in the box lid through which the latching member passes.

Still another objectis to so form the lock or latch that the latching member may be withdrawn by the thumb of the hand, while the finger is used to raise the cover of the box.

Another object of the invention is to provide very simple and cheap means for holding a hasp in engagement with a hasp plate and looking it thereto.

Other objects will appear in the course of the following description.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a transverse section from front to rear of a portion of a box, the latching means being shown in vertical section; Fig. 2 is a detail section of a portion ofthe box with a face View of the latching means; Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4c is a top view of the keeper, the hasp being in section.

Referring to these drawings, A designates a box of any suitable construction, having front and rear walls a and b, and a lid 0. The lid is hinged to the rear'wall of the box in any suitable manner, and adjacent its forward edge is provided with a slot 2. Mounted upon the inside face of the front wall of the box is a hasp carrying plate 3, upon which the hasp 4 is mounted. This plate 3 is made of relatively heavy sheet metal, and has cut out and stamped from it the transversely extending straps 5 and 6 which are integral with the plate. The

strap is longer than the strap 6, and both of these straps are forced out beyond the inner face-of the plate. The hasp or tongue 4; is also made of sheet metal which is resilient, and the base of thehasp or tongue is formed with an opening 7 The tongue is of such width that the base may be in serted beneath the strap 6'and will fit snugly between the ends of the strap, the middle of the strap being depressed or forced inward as at 8, so as to fill and engage in the opening 7. 5 which acts as a keeper. The hasp, as will be seen from Fig. 1 is so formed as to extend upward and outward from the inner face of the plate 3, and the upper portion of the hasp is slightly rounded transversely and is formed with an opening 9,-the'upper wall of which is rounded. The extremity of the hasp is inwardly deflected as at 10 to provide convenient means where by the finger may be applied to the hasp, as will be later stated. The resiliency of the hasp will'c'ause it to spring inward, as illustrated in Fig. 1, but it may be forced against ing disposed at the middle of the plate.

The middle of the plate is also cut away as at 14 adjacent the forward edge of the plate, and this opening is formed with a straight front wall 15, and the rear wall of the opening is provided with the projecting lug 16. The opening 1 L has a length approximately equal to the width of the tongue or hasp 4,

so that the upper end of the hasp may be I inserted through this opening, and the resiliency of the hasp will carry it into engagement over the lug 16. H

' With the parts as described, it is obvious that upon the closing of the lid of the box "the upwardly and forwardly inclined lug 16 will engage with the deflected end 10 of the hasp and will force the hasp outward, and that as soon as the lug 16 has passed the opening 9 the hasp will spring inward so as to engage over the lug 16, looking the lid or cover securely to the body of the box.

When it is desired to open. the lid or cover The hasp passes beneath the strap the thumb is placed upon the deflected end of the hasp, the fingers are engaged beneath the wing 12, and the hasp drawn outward, the fingers acting to lift the lid. 7

It is to be noted that the tongue or hasp 4 is so disposed that the thumb and fingers" only have to be drawn together in order to unlatch the lid, and that the fingers are then r, in such position that the lid may be readily raised practically simultaneously with the Withdrawal of the hasp from its engagement with the lug 16. It is further to-be noted, and-is of importance that in this con- Vdownward through the opening 14 of the keeper plate and through the opening 2 cannot enter the rear portion of the box, but is stopped or obstructed by the hasp 4. Of course some amount of light may pass laterally, but this light will be very much diffused, and no direct light can enter the box when the lid is closed. I V V v This latch is particularly designed for use with boxes holding bottled beer, and in this class of boxes it is very desirable that light shall not enter. In other devicesakin to mine of which I am aware the hasp or quence permits light to enter into the body ofthe box. It is of course obvious that in beer cases it is not advantageous to have the light so enter for the reason that light'has a deteriorating influence on bottled beer.

My invention-is not only entirely effective I for the particular purpose named and for which it is particularly designed, but the parts are few, readily assembled,vand the latching members may be very cheaply made. I

Having described my invention, whats-I claim is:

1. The combination with a container and a lid, the lid having an opening adjacent its free edge, of a keeper mounted upon the lid and having a lug projecting from the rear wall of the opening and extendingpartly over the opening, the front wall of said opening being vertical, and a resilient hasp mounted upon the front wall of the box and extending upward above the top thereof,

Copies of this patent may be obtained for trance oflight into the box through said 7 opening 2. As a. container fastening: means, a keeper plate having anopening at its middle, the front wall of the opening being straight and thevrear wall of the opening being formed with a deflected upwardly projecting lug, the front edge of the plate beingv formed with an outwardly extending wing providing a finger-hold and the rear edge of the plate being also formed with an upwardly and rearwardly extending wing forming a finger-hold, a latch coacting with the keeper plate and including a hasp formed of a resilient bowed strip, the hasp beingsformed with. an opening for engaging a first named lug onthe keeper plate,-said opening being disposed a sufficient distance below the upper extremity of the hasp as to cause the'extremity of the hasp to project above thewings on saidkeeper plate. tongue is so arranged that when in operativev position it is at thev forwardend of the opening 2 and the slot 14, and as a conse-- 3; As a container fastening 'means, a keeper plate having an opening, the front wall of the opening being vertical, and the rear wall of the opening being formed with an upwardly deflected projecting lug, the

front edge of the plate being formed with an outwardly extending wing forming a finger-hold, a latch coacting with the keeper plate and including a hasp formed of a In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix signature in the, presence of two-witnesses.

- MATHEW H. 'STOLL.

Witnesses: j v. s

JoHN F. DoHnR'rY, 'CnoELIA VoLz.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, 1 Washington, D. 0. V 

